1229-1244 - Unirioja

Opción, Año 36, Especial No.27(2020): 1229-1244

ISSN 1012-1587/ISSNe: 2477-9385

Recibido: 20-12-2019 •Aceptado: 20-02-2020

Concepts of humans based on Behaviorism,

Psychoanalysis, Humanism and Islam

Irfan Safrudin1

1Department of Dakwah, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia

[email protected]

Rodliyah Khuzai2


[email protected]

Malki Ahmad Nasir3


[email protected]

Abstract

This paper aimed to reveal both the similarities and differences

of the four grand theories. Using a literature study approach, this paper

synthesized the four schools of thought with newly developed points

of view. The results showed that the differences of the four theories

were mainly on the basic psychological aspects of humans which are

neutral (behaviorism), bad (psychoanalysis), kind (humanism), and

pure (Islam). In conclusion, it has been implied that the development

of humans is not only from the physical and cognitive aspects but also

spiritual aspects which are actually their basic potentials.

Keywords: Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Humanism, Islam,

Humans.

Conceptos de los humanos basados en el

conductismo, el psicoanálisis, el humanismo y el

islam

Resumen

Este artículo tuvo como objetivo revelar tanto las similitudes

como las diferencias de las cuatro grandes teorías. Utilizando un

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

1230 Irfan Safrudin et al. Opción, Año 36, Especial No.27(2020):1229-1244

enfoque de estudio de literatura, este documento sintetizó las cuatro

escuelas de pensamiento con puntos de vista recientemente

desarrollados. Los resultados mostraron que las diferencias de las

cuatro teorías estaban principalmente en los aspectos psicológicos

básicos de los humanos que son neutrales (conductismo), malos

(psicoanálisis), amables (humanismo) y puros (Islam). En conclusión,

se ha implicado que el desarrollo de los humanos no es solo de los

aspectos físicos y cognitivos, sino también de los aspectos espirituales

que en realidad son sus potenciales básicos.

Palabras clave: Conductismo, Psicoanálisis, Humanismo,

Islam, Humanos.

1. INTRODUCTION

Studies on humans on modern and postmodern eras include

basic concepts and structure of human psychology, motivation, meta-

motivation, and philosophical resources. The psychoanalysis approach

stated that humans have Id, Ego, and Super-Ego, and are mastered by

Id which has a strong tendency to fulfill their desire so that it tends to

be bad. In the meantime, behaviorism stated that humans are

controlled by their environment and souls which are mechanic with the

structures of cognition, affection, and psychomotor which trigger them

to be adaptable upon their environment which makes it neutral

(O’DONOHUE & SMITH, 1992). Humanism points out that humans

are rational, social, and self-actualizing their physical, psychological,

and spiritual structures which makes this approach kind (KLINE &

COLE, 2017).

Islam responds to this by stating that humans are multi-

dimensional creatures who are rational, social, and self-actualizing

Concepts of humans based on Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Humanism

and Islam

1231

themselves as a caliph. This approach points out that humans have

their structure of purity, lust, intelligence, and have the desire to

actualize themselves to worship their God. Furthermore, Islam has

been criticizing the previous three grand theories related to the studies

on humans (BAHARUDIN, 2007). In the theories of psychoanalysis

and behaviorism, for instance, humans are emphasized by their

abilities to think and express emotions so that they often highlight that

the main difference between humans and animals is their ability to

think. Islam views that humans differ based on their basic potentials

and their possibilities to develop so that humans are multi-

dimensional. This has been reflected in some verses of the Quran such

as We have certainly created man in the best of stature, and I did not

create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. So let man observe

from what he was created (ANCOK & SUROSO, 1995).

So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. The

fitrah of Allah upon which He has created people. No change should

there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most

people do not know. O People, if you should be in doubt about the

Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, we created you from dust,

then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a

lump of flesh, formed and unformed - that We may show you. And We

settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring

you out as a child, and then that you may reach your maturity. And

among you is he who is taken in death, and among you is he who is

returned to the most decrepit age so that he knows, after knowledge,


nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it

rain, it quivers and swells and grows of every beautiful kind.

Researchers on behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and humanism

tend to discuss the concepts of humans partially. Some of the examples

lie on their dialogs on the conflicts and resolutions between

behaviorism and faith (MATTHIS, 2002), the relationship between

neuroscience and psychology, differences of integration principles and

transformation in instruction according to behaviorism, cognitivism,

and humanism (GUEY, CHENG, & SHIBATA, 2010), the

relationship between integrational linguistics and the behavioral

sciences (MENDOZA, 2011); psychoanalysis and social cognitive

neuroscience as a new framework for dialogue, differences in the use

of the descriptive method and comprehensive analysis on reality,

conflicts and resolutions in the historical perspectives on the

relationship between neurosciences and psychoanalysis (MATTHIS,

2002), moral discussion on the position of embrios between

humanistic and secular groups, the emergence of a new humanism, the

need of explaining the terms of spirituality and humanism, two

systems on the meanings of humanism and normativism, and

differences between humanism and post-humanism.

Studies on humans in the perspectives of behaviorism,

psychoanalysis, and humanism are barely in contact with those or

religions. Islam pays serious attention to the studies of the three

theories. Therefore, this study focused on critically comparing the

concepts of behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism, and Islam on


and Islam

1233

humans, particularly on their psychological basis and structure,

motivation, meta-motivation, and philosophical resources.

2. METHODOLOGY

This systematic literature study comparatively discussed four

schools of thought on the concepts of humans. The four schools of

thought consisted of behavioristic, psychoanalytical, humanistic, and

Islamic theories. Whereas, the concepts of humans in this study were

those adopted from ... comprising humans’ basic concepts of

psychology, humans’ basic structure of psychology, human motivation

and meta-motivation, and humans’ philosophical resources.

Information on this study mainly contained secondary data. In terms of

the four theories used as an analytical framework in this study, we

obtained each of the works of each theory. First, a book entitled About

Behaviors by BF Skinner published in 2011 representing the theory of

behaviorism. The theory viewed humans as a kind creature.

Second, a book entitled The Origin of Psychoanalysis by

Sigmund Freud published in 1954 was acquired representing the

theory of psychoanalysis. Generally, this theory looked at the human

as a devilish creature. Third, a book entitled A Theory of Human

Motivation by Abraham Maslow published in 1943 was retrieved

representing the theory of humanism. This theory talked about

humans’ actualization in general. Last but not least, some verses of the

Quran (BASTAMAN, 1995).


These verses of the Quran saw humans as at least four

terminologies with four different meanings and functions as follows: a.

Al-Bashir, humans as physiological creatures, b. Al-Nas, humans as

psychological creatures, c. Al-ins, humans as social creatures, and d.

Bani adam, humans as spiritual creatures. The three books of

behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and humanism had been acquired from

https://scholar.google.co.id/ by inserting each theory and each expert.

The process of searching the main secondary data – the books and the

Qur’an verses – had been conducted from 2013 to 2019. All the

concepts of humans were then categorized based on the four schools of

thought to see the similarities and differences of one another.

Furthermore, the categorization was synthesized with the existing

theories and relevant references from international journal articles.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

How is the concept of humans based on the theories of

behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism, and Islam? The concept of

psychoanalysis was firstly introduced by Sigmund Freud. The notion

of this concept was that humans were a series of organic diseases and

nerve system deriving from the pioneer of nerve system healing, Jean-

Martin Charcot, with a terminology he used as hysteria. Since that

moment, Freud had performed it to predict the cure for such nerve

systems as the practice was classified as a physiological phenomenon.

However, since 1892, Freud had started to go further with the healing

process. He asked a voluntary patient to speak up their mind

https://scholar.google.co.id/


and Islam

1235

spontaneously. He was assured that aspects of genders and psychology

were important so that for him it was important for doctors to involve

emotional aspects in the curing process. Based on this, Freud pointed

out that humans were creatures controlled by their unconsciousness

system (CATANIA & LATIES, 2006).

According to Freud, ego functions to realize the needs of the id,

a part of personality where one wants their needs fulfilled, by choosing

the available ways acceptable with the existing norms. This leads to

the ego reality principle where ego is mostly placed at the

subconscious mind. However, some of it is actually at the unconscious

mind to be recalled sometime. Ego usually turns into a superego when

ego gives forces of id to neglect the ethical norms. Unlike id whose

orientation is primarily on desire and ego which functions as the basic

reality principle, the superego demands perfection of behavior upon

compliance on the existing norms as the parameter. Thus, it can be

said that the superego implements the principle of ideality.

Behaviorism is a theoretical orientation based on a scientific

psychological premise concerning observable behavior. The theory

was firstly introduced in 1913 by John B. Watson through a published

article focusing on the mental process shifting to the study of overt

behavior. He stated that psychology is unable to investigate the mental

process scientifically since the process is personal.

The behavioristic theory also revealed that humans are the

second schools of thought as formulated by John B. Watson (1878-


1958) in the century. At that time, Watson was a professor at John

Hopkins University. He had attempted to make studies on humans as

objective and scientific as possible because, like Freud, Watson tried

to specify human behaviors as chemical studies of chemistry and

physics. Nowadays, the term behaviorism is commonly used to

interrelated theories of psychology, sociology, and other relevant

studies. He referred not only to John B. Watson but also to others such

as Edward Thondike, Clark Hull, John Dollard, Neal Millaer, and B.F.

Skinner. Some of the roots of this notion are Isaac Newton, which had

developed scientific methods in physics, and Charles Darwin who

came up with the evolution theory that humans are the evolutional

results of animals.

The theory of humanism was developed by American

psychology, Abraham H. Maslow, who was born on 1 April 1908 in

Brooklyn, New York, America. He stated that humans are categorized

into three important aspects. First, humans have their nature consisting

of their needs, capacities, and tendencies which are genetic and unique

to one another. Second, humans have their nature grown and develop

from the inside and get shaped from the outside as a form of self-

actualization. Third, humans’ psychopathology is usually triggered by

their omission or distortion of nature. These ideas led to such questions

as what good is, what bad or abnormal is, what psychopathology is,

and what psychoanalysis is. Those questions were then answered as

follows. Good is defined as everything leading to the development of

human self-actualization of good deeds, bad or abnormal is defined as

everything in contrary with the accepted human nature,


and Islam

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psychopathology is understood as a state distracting human self-

actualization, and psychotherapy is defined as every treatment helping

the development of human nature.

Maslow also proposed an idea of the inner nature of humans. It

is believed that the instincts of humans’ inner nature are neither too

strong nor too weak. It can also be right or wrong. However, the basic

states of humans’ inner nature are weak, soft, and easily impacted by

habits, cultural pressure, and other pressing matters. Nevertheless, it

never disappears, even when humans are sick. Maslow agreed that it

always has a strong will to move forward to a better quality of life in

terms of health, self-growth, and self-actualization.

According to the perspective of Islam, humans consist of two

elements; physiology and psychology. This unique feature of humans

makes humans interesting to study. There have been studies on

humans based on Islam viewed from different perspectives. However,

as an Abrahamic religion, Islam refers to everything to its holy book

namely the Quran. According to the Quran, humans are born as a

divine creature, gifted with intelligence; And to Allah prostrates

whoever is within the heavens and the earth, willingly or by

compulsion, and their shadows [as well] in the mornings and the

afternoons; with a lot of different potentials: And do not wish for that

by which Allah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a

share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they

have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed, Allah is ever, of all

things, Knowing; born as social creatures O mankind, indeed We have


created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes

that you may know one another.

According to Islam's point of view, the degree of humans is the

highest in comparison with the other creatures; therefore, they do not

inherit the sins performed by their ancestors. Islam also perceives that

humans are divided into four dimensions comprising physiological

aspects, psychological aspects, socio-cultural aspects, and spiritual

aspects. Their spiritual aspect usually tends to build a relationship

between humans and God through religious teaching, enables them to

have freedom of will, and enables them to think logically to develop

science, technology, and civilization. All of these are through the

guidance of God as the ultimate resource of the humans’ spiritual

aspect.

How is humans’ psychological structure based on the theories

of Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Humanism, and Islam?

Psychoanalysis stated that humans are divided into three states of

consciousness including consciousness, preconsciousness, and

unconsciousness. Of all three states, unconsciousness has the largest

part so that it controls the whole systems of human behaviors. One of

which is Id which contains basic instrints, primary desire, and

childhood traumatic experiences. This is in line with Freud’ opinions

on humans stating that humans are like an iceberg floating in the

ocean. This opinion is in contradiction with that of Skinner which

divides human behaviors into respondent and operant. Respondent

behaviors are those stimulated by a certain factor while operant


and Islam

1239

behaviors are more spontaneous. Consequently, respondent behaviors

can actually be trained while operant ones cannot since they both have

different types of reinforcement (BAHARUDIN, 2007).

Behavioristic experts view humans as biological creatures

influenced by their environment. Therefore, the adaptation process has

always been the central point of discussion in this theory. Several

theories as classical conditioning, law effect, operant conditioning, and

modeling have been established as the results of the discussion. Those

experiences are then formed in a system namely stimulus-response

bonds so that humans do not have their behavioral freedom.

Concerning this, Maslow has one of the toughest criticism since he

agreed that humans’ basic instincts are kind or at least neutral. They

will tend to be destructive if their nature is compromised. This is

closely related to the concept of humans in Islam since the first thing

to do in this approach is introducing them to who they are, where they

come from, and how they should interact with each other in

accordance with the sharia of Islam. This is strongly reflected by the

history of Adam and Eve reflected by the Quran. The Islamic

perception has been the mediator for the existing theory of human

origin.

The word human has been mentioned four times in the Quran in

different words. The words al-insan, al-ins, or al-nas, have been

interpreted as harmonious creatures. The words are often used when

compared with the word al-jin and are often used when humans are

reflected as a whole, both physically and psychologically QS. In the


meantime, the word al-Bashir has been used when talking about

something good or beautiful. This indicates that humans are social

creatures with maturity and responsibility. The word al-Nas is used to

show that humans are born as social creatures and the word bani Adam is

used to showing that humans are all the sons of Adam and the first human

ever created (AMBER, 2004). The differences in human psychological

structure based on behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism, and Islam are

described in Table 1.

Table 1: Comparison of Humans based on Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis,

Humanism, and Islam School of

Thought

Psychoanalysis Behaviorism Humanism Islam

Philosophy of

Science

Idealism

irrationalism

Empirism Rationalism Revelation,

ratio, and

intelligence

in

understanding

reality

Perspectives

on Humans

Mastered by

instincts/ Id

Influenced

by the

environment

A uniquely

social,

rational, and

self-

actualizing

creature

A rational,

social, self-

actualizing,

and multi-

dimensional

creature

acting as a

caliph

Basic

Psychological

Concepts

Bad Neutral Kind Kind

Basic

Psychological

Structure

Id, Ego, Super

Ego

Cognition,

affection,

and

psychomotor

Physical,

psychological,

and spiritual

aspects

Spirit, natural

tendency,

desire,

intelligence,

and heart

Maslow, as one of the experts in humanism, believed that human

motivation is organized into a hierarchy (KENRICK, 2017), which is


and Islam

1241

defined as a systematic need that has to be fulfilled. The need is instinctive

yet the motivation to fulfill it can be trained. In this system, the lowest

needs appear at the highest hierarchy. For instance, humans as babies need

to be taken care of. As they grow to be teenagers, they need to be

acknowledged and as they grow older, they need self-actualization.

Humans will tend to be anxious and even frustrated when their high needs

are not fulfilled, even if their other needs are.

Regarding this matter, Islam has a different perspective with

psychoanalysis and behaviorism and a quite similar one with humanism.

Both Islam and humanism share the same opinions that humans are not

merely constructed from physical aspects. There is a concept of

psychological aspect namely spirit. However, humanism does not see this

spirit in terms of theology. In fact, in Islam, this term is used to reflect

humans as a special creature with spirituality so that they have

transcendental values. The differences in the concept of humans based on

the four theories in terms of motivation and meta-motivation are described

in Table 2.

Table 2: Comparison of the concept of humans based on Psychoanalysis,

Behaviorism, Humanism, and Islam in terms of motivation and meta-

motivation School of

Thought Psychoanalysis Behaviorism Humanism Islam

Motivation and

Metamtivation

To satisfy the

instinctive

desire and

maintain

balance

To adapt to

the

environment

and

experience

joy

To fulfill

hierarchical

needs and

perform self-

actualization

To fulfill

multi-

dimensional

needs based

on divine

nature and

worship God


How is the concept of humans based on Behaviorism,

Psychoanalysis, Humanism, and Islam in terms of Philosophical

Resources? An epistemological comparison is a foundation of human

definition. It has been epistemologically defined that psychoanalysis states

that humans’ behaviors are influenced by their past, unconsciousness, and

biological needs which always demand immediate fulfillment and

sometimes lead to cruelty. In the meantime, behaviorism thinks that

humans’ behaviors are constructed by empirical studies, not intuitive

forces.

In short, behaviorism agrees that humans’ behaviors are dependent

upon reinforcement. Humanism, in the meantime, comes up with the idea

that humans are especially unique creatures since they have ideas,

creativity, self-awareness, responsibility, and love. These are classified

into two abilities of humans namely self-detachment and self-

transcendence. However, some humanists believe that these will

eventually lead to spirituality, responsibility, and freedom

(BAHARUDIN, 2007). In the meantime, Islam views that humans have

spiritual needs to worship their God. Humans’ epistemological concepts

based on the four theories are described in Tables 3 and 4.

Table 3: An epistemological comparison of the concept of humans based

on Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Humanism, and Islam Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, and Humanism Islam

1. Science is constructed through intelligence,

facts, and resources.

2. Science is currently limited to the

understanding of physics.

3. Science is developed based on clear logic.

Thus, it shows the right and wrong.

4. Science should be rational, meaning that it

should have empirical support.

5. According to Weber, science and ethics are

in contradiction.

1. Science should be constructed

through faith that Allah has

created it through His words as

time goes by. This is the ultimate

truth.

2. Science does not merely

depend on intelligence, but also

rules of God interpreted in the

religion.


and Islam

1243

Table 4: An epistemological comparison of the method based on

Behaviorism, Psychoanalysis, Humanism, and Islam Psychoanalysis,

Behaviorism, and

Humanism

Islam

Science should be

acquired through

logical, empirical, and

measurable methods.

Science can be acquired both by deductible, logical,

or inductical, empirical, methods. However, both

methods should refer to the Quran and Hadith.

The deductive method places the Quran as the

premises for the empirical sciences.

The inductive method is verified through revelation.

When there is no single verse in the Quran that

matches the phenomenon, it is a hypothesis for

further research.

4. CONCLUSION

The comparative study has proven that studies on humans have

developed started with the emergence of behaviorism emphasizing that

humans are mainly biological aspects who are dependent upon their

environment. This is then criticized by the psychoanalysis approach

stating that humans are dominated by primitive forces. Both opinions

are then evaluated by the humanism approach saying that the quality of

humans is actually developed according to their needs. However, Islam

seems to complete the previous three theories since Islam does not

only view humans are biological creatures with abilities to think and

show emotions, but also agree that humans have a pure basis and

potentials to be a caliph with spiritual needs.

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UNIVERSIDAD

DEL ZULIA

Revista de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales

Año 36, Especial N° 27 (2020)

Esta revista fue editada en formato digital por el personal de la Oficina de

Publicaciones Científicas de la Facultad Experimental de Ciencias, Universidad

del Zulia.

Maracaibo - Venezuela

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